For the first time since 1995, wine grapes fell out of the top four crops in Santa Barbara County, giving way to cauliflower, broccoli and nursery products in its slide from No. 2 to No. 5, while strawberries remained at the top, according to the 2020 Crop Report
Cauliflower was followed at No. 3 by broccoli, which stepped up from its 2019 sixth-place slot with a value of more than $104.6 million, an increase of nearly $24.3 million.
Broccoli captured the No. 3 spot from nursery products, which dropped to No. 4 at almost $98.6 million, still an increase of more than $942,000 from the 2019 value.
The county’s newest major crop — cannabis — was not included in the total production value, but if it had been, it would easily have claimed the No. 2 position with a total value of nearly $194.6 million.
“Right now, it’s not included as agriculture by the [U.S. Department of Agriculture],” Martel said. “It’s still federally illegal.”